If you missed Chapter 1 here's the link: Chapter 1: Migration
Blake Shelton must have lived in my hostel when he wrote the song "Boys 'Round Here." Why? That is how the hostel environment felt, just as the song "Boys 'Round Here."
On the first morning in the hostel, everyone's up early with a bucket, mug, and a towel in their hand. Going back to the first day - the hostel rector said, "Garam paani sirf subhe 8 baje takh he aayega" (Hot water is available only till 8 am), and everyone took it seriously, as no one was ready to face the wrath of cold showers. There was one smart person in the hostel who enlightened us with the concept of saving water and showering later, and that is how "FOGG" sales skyrocketed that year. The best sight of that morning after the queue to collect hot water was the expression on the faces of the first-time common bathroom users.
We were done with our classes for that day, and we wanted to have some snacks, so we all went out in search of a good place to have some snacks. "Snakes available" (that is how most of the food places near my college advertised the availability of snacks), and that is when we discovered Aasim’s Maggi Corner. If making Maggi is an art, then Aasim bhai is the Picasso of it. This Maggi corner had it all: Cheese-Maggi, Omelette-Maggi, Maggi with a half fry, and the list goes on. It reminded me of the permutations and combinations chapter from class 12. While I write this, I can smell and taste my Omelette-Maggi from six years ago with cold Bournvita. That was our first time at Aasim bhai’s, and later it became our dinner, especially when we had exams the next day. With an electric kettle and Maggi packets in our hands, everyone in the hostel aspired to be Aasim bhai - B.E Maggiwale.
After having our dinner, we had a routine, and that was to play Mini Militia, the PUBG of our days. With all our phones connected to the charger, our gaming sessions went on for hours. I had a Samsung Galaxy S3 which didn’t even let me start the game, and even if it did, others would complete 3-4 rounds of the game, and that is how Redmi Note 3 sales skyrocketed. Sia must have seen us playing and enjoying in the hostel, and that’s when she wrote “Cheap Thrills” or, as we sing it in our hostel, “Sasti Masti.”
Aasim’s Maggi corner:
B.E Maggiwale:
Hostel Nights:
Thanks to all my hostelmates.
Your feedback and support is what makes me a better writer and brings out the best in me . So do correct me if I am wrong and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section and also your hostel life experience.
~ Darshan Shanbhag
